Chapter 2
Maybe Jiang Shiyu got too caught up in his playful bragging with Xie Yi last night, because even he was moved by the “rounding-up” logic that brainwashed him.
Since getting up and washing his face this morning, Jiang Shiyu’s mood had been as cheerful as a happy little sparrow. If you gave him a lamppost right now, he could immediately perform a dazzling pole ballet on it.
Maintaining this joyful mood, even the vocal lessons he usually hated sparked some interest in him today.
No way around it — the happiness of chasing a “CEO-chasing fanboy” always refreshes the spirit.
So, just as the refreshed Jiang Shiyu stepped out of the vocal room, Manager Hong caught him and took him to the company’s makeup room.
The stylist understood immediately and quickly changed Jiang Shiyu into a new outfit and fixed his hair.
Looking in the full-length mirror, completely renewed and ready for an instant blind date, Jiang Shiyu casually brushed back his stylish hair and adjusted his little leather jacket. He glanced at his manager, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Actually, he had just secretly tugged at his slightly tight black jeans.
“Even the fans know our company is a small workshop with tight funds. Just make do with what you’ve got to wear,”
Manager Hong said. She really was the kind of manager who’d know what Jiang Shiyu was thinking as soon as he shifted his butt.
With that one sentence, Jiang Shiyu swallowed the words “This outfit’s too flashy, can I not wear it?” that were about to escape his mouth.
But as the face of the boy group, Jiang Shiyu’s looks and figure were undeniable.
Fair-skinned, beautifully handsome, long legs, big eyes, tall and elegant. Even wearing a flashy purple jacket with tight jeans, he could still pull off an otherworldly aura.
During the short few minutes’ drive to Le Jia’s private room, he caught so many glances. Even Gong Peiwen, the TV drama’s leading lady and a popular rising star attending the dinner tonight in full glam, was completely overshadowed by him.
Wang Zhaojun said it well: beauty is a kind of sin, one that even a blizzard cannot bury.
However, the handsome Jiang Shiyu had no intention of overshadowing anyone tonight, so he was very clear about his own position. After exchanging greetings with everyone, he quietly took a seat in his corner, as calm as a little chick.
After all, he was only the fourth male lead.
And not even officially confirmed yet.
Being a beautiful little chick wasn’t so bad.
—
As the time approached 6:30, most of the actors had arrived, but Producer Zhang, who organized the dinner, was still nowhere to be seen.
Having only drunk a bottle of mineral water at noon, Jiang Shiyu was now so hungry that his chest was pressed against his back. Looking at the delicious roast suckling pig on the round table, he felt like he could eat two huge pig trotters in one go.
But since Producer Zhang hadn’t arrived, no one dared to eat. Everyone could only awkwardly make small talk to pass the time.
While humoring everyone with some polite banter, Jiang Shiyu quietly lifted his teacup and gulped down several cups of tea.
By the time he finished his seventh cup, the fashionably late Producer Zhang finally pushed open the door!
Jiang Shiyu, his eyes shining brightly from hunger, looked at Producer Zhang with joy — even the two chubby cheeks on Zhang’s face seemed unexpectedly cute to him!
“Sorry, sorry, everyone, for keeping you waiting.”
Producer Zhang cupped his fists toward everyone present. Although he said sorry, there wasn’t a trace of apology on his face.
What’s more, a subtle joy gleamed in his small eyes.
“Just went to pick up Second Young Master Fu, got held up a bit.”
“Second Young Master is currently on a call, so he asked me to come ahead. Please wait a moment, everyone.”
At Producer Zhang’s words, the room instantly fell silent.
“Second Young Master decided to come at the last minute. I only received the news about twenty minutes ago.”
After delivering the news that Second Young Master Fu was coming, Producer Zhang slipped aside, freeing up the C-position at the main table originally reserved for him, and sat down at a spot nearby.
Jiang Shiyu, who had been focused on eating quickly, hadn’t really paid attention to Producer Zhang’s words. Now that there was no food to eat yet, he could only join the others in discussing Second Young Master Fu.
At some point, Manager Hong quietly moved next to Jiang Shiyu and whispered, “Second Young Master Fu is coming, be sharp!”
Jiang Shiyu looked up.
“Which Second Young Master?”
Manager Hong lowered her voice, “Of course, Mr. Fu’s younger brother!”
Jiang Shiyu was momentarily speechless.
When did his beloved domineering CEO suddenly gain a younger brother out of nowhere?!
And he had no idea at all?
Jiang Shiyu felt like he was about to suffocate. As a devoted fan, the helplessness of knowing nothing about his idol’s family overwhelmed him…
He hadn’t checked any news about his domineering CEO just yesterday—how had he already fallen behind the times today?
“Second Young Master has been studying abroad for a long time. He just returned to the country a few days ago. He’s quite interested in the film and television industry, so he came over to have a look first.”
Fortunately, the thoughtful Producer Zhang immediately gave a brief introduction about Second Young Master Fu’s background. He then explicitly stated, “Second Young Master is the only brother of Mr. Fu. They grew up together abroad, so everyone, be mindful of what you say later.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shiyu finally felt at ease.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t competent, but rather that the domineering CEO had done such a good job protecting his younger brother that even people in the industry didn’t know much about him. Speaking of which, Jiang Shiyu was actually one of the first to meet Second Young Master!
Realizing this golden opportunity, Jiang Shiyu perked up.
The domineering CEO’s younger brother was his younger brother, and he definitely had to flatter him properly!
After a brief pause, Producer Zhang clapped his hands. “Alright, that’s all we can say for now. Everyone, return to your seats, and let’s wait a bit.”
At Producer Zhang’s command, the dining table instantly fell quiet.
Then, Gong Peiwen turned and went to the restroom. When she came out, her lipstick was a bit more glamorous than before.
Soon, the next actress followed her into the restroom to touch up her makeup.
Jiang Shiyu stared at the restroom door, opening and closing, opening and closing again. He couldn’t manage to say his flattery, but the urge to pee was growing stronger…
Jiang Shiyu shifted a little. He had already drunk seven cups of water, and his pants felt a bit tight…
This sensation was quite torturous.
Seeing that the restroom in the private room had been completely occupied by actresses touching up their makeup, and they showed no signs of coming out anytime soon, Jiang Shiyu could only get up and head to the restroom in the hallway to relieve himself.
The restroom was at the end of the corridor, not too far from the private room.
Jiang Shiyu strode quickly toward the men’s restroom, but before he even reached the door, someone blocked his way.
“Handsome~ I think I’ve seen you somewhere before!”
The drunken man, reeking of alcohol, stood in front of Jiang Shiyu. His lecherous eyes scanned Jiang Shiyu up and down, and his tone was flirtatious and greasy to the point of dripping.
As someone with a flashy, “temptress-level” kind of looks, Jiang Shiyu had been hit on with this tired old line over a million times since he was young. He was long since immune to it.
He frowned and said coldly with an aloof air, “Please step aside.”
Nature calls.
In his most desperate moment, Jiang Shiyu could see the restroom right in front of him but couldn’t get in immediately. Being hit on by a sleazy drunk was the last thing he wanted.
After saying that coldly, Jiang Shiyu wasn’t planning to entertain this drunk any further.
He stepped aside and turned to leave.
But unexpectedly, the drunken man, emboldened by liquor, staggered behind him as he tried to reach out and grab Jiang Shiyu’s butt!
Fortunately, Jiang Shiyu was quick to react and dodged the scoundrel’s sneaky hand.
Seeing the drunk stumble and fall to the ground after missing his target, Jiang Shiyu was so disgusted that he nearly kicked the greasy man’s face.
If he weren’t a member of a popular boy band—and worried about ending up in entertainment news for assault—Jiang Shiyu would have done just that.
Not only was he being sexually harassed, but he was also holding in his pee and almost got his butt grabbed. Jiang Shiyu was furious.
Even after finishing and washing his hands, the fire still burned strongly inside him.
But just at that moment, he turned around and saw a man.
A handsome man with a mixed-race face that radiated a fresh, charming aura.
At that moment, the man was staring at him intently.
As someone who had spent years obsessing over handsome guys, Jiang Shiyu’s brain reflexively rated this man’s appearance a solid 9 out of 10.
The man’s good looks certainly pleased Jiang Shiyu, but being stared at with a look of curiosity made even someone as thick-skinned as Jiang Shiyu feel a little uncomfortable.
Before Jiang Shiyu could figure out where the discomfort was coming from, the handsome guy suddenly spoke, making him feel even more uneasy.
“I think I’ve seen you somewhere before…”
Being sexually harassed with the same line from two different people within five minutes…
Jiang Shiyu’s face turned green.
The bad impression brought on by the previous greasy middle-aged man spread all over again.
He knew it—he shouldn’t have dressed so provocatively!
Jiang Shiyu glared at the handsome guy in front of him, his rating instantly plummeting to -100!
He couldn’t accept it—one second the guy was so fresh and handsome, and the next he said such a greasy thing!
“It’s 2020, bro. Time to update your flirting tactics!”
With a cold, sarcastic remark, Jiang Shiyu didn’t even give the man a second glance. He turned and left without looking back.
He walked away so quickly that he completely missed the look of shock and confusion in the other man’s eyes…
After being hit on twice in the same way, Jiang Shiyu felt incredibly unlucky.
So instead of immediately returning to the private room, he went out to the balcony for some fresh air.
After about ten minutes outside, when Jiang Shiyu came back to the room, he clearly felt that the atmosphere had changed.
The entire place seemed like it had been set on fire, suddenly igniting, more than twenty people stood up in unison, all gathered neatly in one direction, with compliments ringing out one after another.
Looks like his boss’s younger brother had arrived.
“Why was your phone off when I called just now?”
Before Jiang Shiyu could catch a clear glimpse of the younger brother in the crowd, Sister Hong handed him a glass of red wine the moment he walked in.
Jiang Shiyu took the wine and lied without changing expression, “The battery died.”
“Oh, that’s fine. It’s not too late now anyway. Come on, let’s go over and toast.”
Jiang Shiyu understood what Sister Hong meant—tonight, the appearance of the boss’s younger brother was an unexpected surprise for the entire crew. So since the surprise had arrived, if he was lucky enough to make a familiar impression on him, wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Of course, even if Sister Hong hadn’t said anything, Jiang Shiyu would have gone over to toast on his own.
After all, the person in front of him was the younger brother of the man he adored. Such a rare opportunity was impossible to miss!
Holding his wine glass, Jiang Shiyu walked behind the boss’s younger brother, Second Young Master Fu.
Looking at the man’s back, Jiang Shiyu felt that the color of his suit seemed somehow familiar.
Before he could think it through, Sister Hong had already spoken first.
“Hello, Ershao!”
After finishing, Sister Hong threw Jiang Shiyu a look, and Jiang Shiyu immediately put on the signature smile of his idol boy band and followed closely behind Sister Hong, introducing himself.
“Hello, Ershao, I’m Jiang Shi—”
At the last character “Yu” in his name, Jiang Shiyu simply couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Not only his own name, but also all the rainbow-flattering compliments he had been saving up instantly got swallowed back into his stomach—not daring to say a single word, no, not even utter it.
Because the person he had just scornfully mocked and sneered at was none other than his beloved boss’s very own younger brother!
One moment he was ridiculing someone as “the younger brother,” the next moment he had to go all clingy and call him “Ershao”…
What could be more brutal than reality slapping you in the face?
Jiang Shiyu’s face instantly flushed bright red, his hand holding the wine glass trembling slightly…
Obviously, the other party also recognized Jiang Shiyu at a glance. After a second of shock, a hint of amusement immediately appeared in his eyes.
This is bad, this is bad—this drama of mine might be doomed…
Jiang Shiyu felt his scalp tingle from Fu Jincheng’s gaze. Unable to bear such a cruel scene, he could only force a laugh and turn his body away.
Before turning, he thought: probably nothing could be more cruel than this moment.
After turning, he realized he was still too young.
After all, even third-rate cliché CEO romance writers nowadays wouldn’t dare to write something this ridiculous.
Accompanied by a strong aura of dominance.
His beloved boss actually appeared in this private room.
At the moment Jiang Shiyu saw Fu Jinyao’s face, he held onto the hopeful thought that maybe he was just hallucinating from embarrassment.
Until a calm voice came from behind him: “Brother.”
—
Jiang Shiyu’s vision went dark, his legs went weak, and he almost fell.
What should he do when one moment he offended his beloved boss’s precious little brother, and the next moment he encountered the boss himself?!
Panicking, waiting online…